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Title: A Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L'Engle ISBN: 0-440-49805-8 Publisher: Yearling Books Pub. Date: 11 May, 1998 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $6.50 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.44 (768 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: After all that time, still a splendidly unwrinkled story!
Comment: "It was a dark and stormy night." In her 1962 Newbery Medal winning novel "A Wrinkle in Time", Madeleine L'Engle uses this cliched opening to tell an uncliched tale about time travel, a tale that itself has marvellously stood the test of time. The protagonist Meg is a rather plain and ordinary looking girl from a rather extraordinary family. Meg's father and mother are brilliant scientists, and her father has been away for a considerable time on a secret government mission. But things start happening when that "dark and stormy night" brings the other-worldly Mrs. Whatsit to Meg's home, with her mysterious comment: "by the way, there *is* such a thing as a tessseract." (p18). A tesseract, we discover, is a fifth dimension which enables instantaneous travel to different places in the universe (p72). Meg, her genious five-year old brother Charles Wallace, and their new friend Calvin O'Keefe, are joined by Mrs. Watsit and her two companions, the classic-quoting Mrs. Which and the stammering Mrs. Who (whom Calvin later describes as "Guardian angels! Messengers of God!" p179) in a quest to rescue Meg's father.
The travellers from earth come to discover that Meg's father is in the center of a "grand and exciting battle" (p82), a cosmic battle between good and evil, fighting the Dark Thing which also threatens planet earth with its evil: "That is why your planet is such a troubled one." (p81) The wrinkle in time takes them to the planet Camazotz, which seems to be a play on the word "comatose" because all its inhabitants are victims of thoughtless conformity controlled by one mind, the IT (p132). Charles Wallace too falls under the spell of the enemy and IT's manipulating mind (p126). With the help of the three Mrs. Ws, can Meg and Calvin rescue both Meg's father and brother? Meg can only succeed if she recognizes the saving power of love (p194).
As a Christian, L'Engle is clearly using the cosmic battle against the Dark Thing as a metaphor of the battle between the kingdoms of Christ and Satan, with an explicit reference to John 1 that Jesus is the light shining in the darkness (p82). There are a few peculiarities, such as the inclusion of the occult in the form of the Happy Medium and her crystal ball on the side of good (p78ff) and the facade of witchcraft employed by the three Mrs Ws, as well as the bizarre list of humans who have fought on the side of good (p82). But on the whole, astute readers familiar with the Bible will find much deep spiritual meaning in the imagery and language that L'Engle uses. Charles is vulnerable because "he trusted too much to his own strength." (p155) Despite her weaknesses, Meg is commissioned to rescue Charles because "God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty." (p189) "But of course we can't take any credit for our talents. It's how we use them that counts." (p78) The apparently blind Aunt Beast says: "We look not at the things which are what you would call seen, but at the things which are not seen." And Meg's rejection of common scepticism about her Father's return ("Why don't you face facts about your father?") resembles the attitude that the Bride of Christ can have to her Bridegroom's return: "As long as she says Father *is* coming home, then I'll believe that." (p23) Meg's mother shares another pearl of wisdom about the humble attitude of believers: "I think that with our human limitations we're not always able to understand the explanations. But you see, Meg, just because we don't understand doesn't mean that the explanation doesn't exist." (p41).
Although the profound religious depth gives L'Engle's stories a lasting significance, the facts of theology never overpower the excitement of the fiction. When combined with identifiable characters, an imaginative and fantastic world, and an exciting plot, this combination of theology, science and fantasy is a formula for success. It's little wonder that "A Wrinkle In Time" has proven to be timeless, and worthy of being placed alongside Lewis' Narnia Chronicles, and above Harry Potter. This story may be forty years old, but it hasn't worn out its pleasure for either children or adults, and after all that time is still a winning story without wrinkles!
Rating: 5
Summary: Not just for kids
Comment: I read the first part of this set in 1963 and was enthralled with it. I waited (not so patiently) for the rest of the set to come out and was richly rewarded for my patience.
The first book sets the stage for the next three and introduces the characters of Meg, Charles Wallace and Calvin> Meg's father was working for the government and has been gone quite some time, leaving Meg and her family alone. Meg's mom keeps the home fires burning, but never lets on to the children her fears. Charles Wallace was just a baby when his father left, now he's in school. And then there's Meg - not cool like the other girls, not beautiful, too outspoken and smart to fit in her class, she worries that her father has died. Throw Calvin, a sort of popular boy from school into this mix and you got the makings of an adventure. (The twins show up in this book, but later they are showcased more.)
Meg and company set out ot find her father, which turns out to be a lot harder than it looks - and it looks pretty darn hard!
The other books continue the adventures of this group, as the characters age and other things come along to upset their world.
The books are set up as a classic good versus evil, but it never feels preachy or didactic and you will be swept away in the current of the stories. I highly recommend this for girls as it shows a protagonist who isn't cool or popular and how she handles things - not so well at times. My sons loved it, too so I know other boys would like it. I reread it every few years as it seems there's something in there I need to read again or I learn something different. Obviously, in the beginning, I identified more with Meg, but now I see the parents' point of view, too.
Buy this set for yourself or for somebody who needs to be a little challenged on their reading and thinking and enjoy it.
Rating: 5
Summary: provoke your thoughts
Comment: Let's start this off by saying that after I read this book I went out and bought the next three in the series. I simply could not put the book down and I found the same with the next three. The story starts off with Meg and her younger brother Charles Wallace. Their father is on a secret government mission and has been gone for a long time. They go on a journey to find him with their freind Calvin and three peculiar women they meet along the way. They tesseract (wrinkle) through space. They find their father, but they have a lot to accomplish before they can save him. I won't give away the ending, but I highly suggest this book. It is for everyone, all ages, religions, races, gender etc.
It's a fast read and it's very thought provoking.
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Title: The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster ISBN: 0394820371 Publisher: Random House Pub. Date: 12 October, 1988 List Price(USD): $6.50 |
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Title: A Swiftly Tilting Planet by Madeleine L'Engle ISBN: 0440401585 Publisher: Yearling Books Pub. Date: 15 December, 1980 List Price(USD): $6.50 |
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Title: From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L. Konigsburg ISBN: 0440431808 Publisher: Yearling Books Pub. Date: 15 October, 1977 List Price(USD): $4.99 |
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Title: The Chronicles of Narnia Boxed Set by C. S. Lewis, Cliff Nielsen ISBN: 0064471195 Publisher: HarperCollins Pub. Date: 08 July, 1994 List Price(USD): $41.93 |
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Title: Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson, Donna Diamond ISBN: 0064401847 Publisher: HarperTrophy Pub. Date: 17 June, 1987 List Price(USD): $5.99 |
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